“It’s good to know who your enemies are.”
“Are we enemies, Moira?”
She hasn’t backed away yet, and even though I know she’s going to be a real pain in my ass in the upcoming weeks, I can’t bring myself to actually dislike her. It’s quite the opposite, actually, and I have a feeling that’s where the real problem is going to be.
“Considering your club is a big part of why this one is losing money faster than I can keep up with and why I have to try and do all this by myself since Sean is too damn scared to show his face around here, then, yeah, I think it’s safe to say we aren’t going to be besties anytime soon.” I don’t bother mentioning that I’d rather assemble this place on my hands and knees piece-by-fucking-piece than accept Sean’s help. It’s not any of his damn business.
I run my eyes over her and say, “Well, that’s a pity.”
She narrows her eyes at me, and I bite my tongue to keep from smiling at how cute she looks with her furrowed brow and full lips set in a line.
“And it’s not our fault the Irish club went to hell. Paddy, your sweet grandad, was a real pain in the ass, and he’s the one that decided to kill one of his own fighters and try to blame it on Dima.”
The more I talk, the more pissed I get, but I can’t seem to stop myself.
“And Sean has every right to be scared. That little bastard was with Liam when he attacked Gina and didn’t do a goddamn thing to stop it.”
I scrub a hand over my face and force myself to relax.
“Who’s Gina?”
Moira’s voice pulls my attention back to her. “She’s Dima’s wife. They were dating at the time, and Sean and Liam threatened her to get to Dima. They left bruises all over her to get their point across.”
“I’m fully aware of the man my grandad is, and I’ve known Sean and Liam long enough to not be surprised by what you’ve said, but I need this club to do well and start bringing in some money, and you’re my main competition.”
“So, you’re planning on staying and running this club all on your own?”
I can see her scowl returning at the disbelief in my voice. I know firsthand how hard it is to run a boxing club. Hell, the Red Wolf has Dima, me, and Aleksei who handles all of our accounting. Plus, we have Vadim as our lawyer on standby to help us whenever we get in a jam. Granted, we also run the Arctic Fox, a popular nightclub that’s right next door to our gym, but I still can’t imagine tackling everything all on my own.
“I can handle it,” she says, finally taking a step back and reaching for the safety glasses that are hanging from the front of her bibs. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Sokolov, I have work to do, and you’re very much in my way.”
It’s been so long since anyone has dared to treat me so rudely that it takes a second for my brain to catch up to the dismissal I was just given.
“You’re going to be a real pain in the ass, aren’t you, Moira?”
She laughs and picks her sledgehammer back up, looking every bit the Irish mythological warrior. “You have no idea, Nik,” she says with a smug grin.
“It’s Nikolai.”
“Yeah, I heard you the first time.”
I’m gritting my teeth to keep from saying something I’ll regret when she turns her back on me and walks over to the wall she’s singlehandedly demolishing. I want to turn around and storm out, but my eyes stay glued to her fit, young body. She pulls back the sledgehammer like she’s about to knock one out of the park and slams it into the wall, sending up another cloud of dust as pieces of plaster fall at her feet, creating a large hole in what was once a solid piece of wall.
If she wasn’t being so difficult, I’d stay to help her out. We could make quick work of that wall and have it down in no time, but I remember the smug grin she’d given me and the flippant, dismissive way she’d talked to me, so instead of offering to help, I turn and walk away. If she wants my help, she can damn well ask for it. An image of Moira on her hands and knees, begging me for help has me smiling all the way back to my car. It’s a good position for her. She seems like a woman who needs a good spank every now and then.
I’m forced to discreetly adjust my painfully hard cock before sitting down. I’d been dreading meeting her, but I hadn’t planned on her being so damn beautiful. Women aren’t in short supply at the club, but it’s been a long time since anyone’s caught my attention like Moira has. I push the thought aside and pull out of the parking lot. So what if she’s beautiful? Lots of women are. I’ll forget about her soon enough and that will be that. Besides, it’s not like her club is going to be functional anytime soon. I shouldn’t have to see her again for a long time.
When I’m pulling back into the Red Wolf’s lot, my phone starts to buzz in my pocket. Digging it out, I pull in next to Aleksei’s red car and look at the screen. Not recognizing the number, I decline the call and take a second to compose myself before going inside. This Irish lass has gotten under my skin, and I don’t like it.
As soon as I get out of my car, I hear the loud music filtering over from the Arctic Fox. Ever since it opened, it’s been nothing but profit. A combination of it being the only nightclub that lets in eighteen-year-olds and a set of waitresses that are the stereotypical tall, blonde Russian beauties means that it will probably stay that way. Plus, we have a connecting door between the two clubs, so any member can just head over after a workout to grab a bite to eat for supper and relax with a drink without having to wait in line or pay an extra cover charge.
“Hey, what are you still doing here?” I ask Dima when I walk inside and see him coming out of his office.
“Seryozha dropped one of his favorite teething toys earlier.” He holds up a colorful stuffed puppy with silicone teething rings for paws. “We would never have gotten any sleep tonight if I hadn’t come back for it.”
“God, you’re such a dad. Pretty soon you’re going to be driving one of those godawful minivans that Americans are so damn fond of.”
“Fuck you.” He gives me a friendly punch and shoves the teething toy in his jacket pocket. “I may be a dad, but I’m a cool one, and Gina’s still young, so I’m a cool dad with a young, hot wife.”